All that work with the gloves is paying off for the Lewis Mills High of Burlington baseball team.

Last year the Spartans committed 67 errors, finished 7-13 and didn't qualify for the Class M tournament.

This year they've made 28 errors, were 16-2 through Thursday's games and already have qualified for the postseason out of the Berkshire League.

"We gave teams too many outs last year," coach Jesse Darcy said. "We took more grounders in the offseason and in season, but the big thing is our guys are more focused on what they'll do with the ball before it is hit to them, and then making plays."

Fielding alone didn't lift the Spartans to the most victories in Darcy's five years at Lewis Mills.

"Our pitchers have given up fewer walks," he said. "They're pitching to contact."

Senior righthander Bill Willett was 5-0 and had only allowed six walks before Lewis Mills played Terryville on Friday. Jake Jennings is 4-0, Brian Nedley 3-0 and Kyle Alvarez 3-1 with a save.

At the plate, Darcy said his team "is strong one through nine." Leadoff man Will Coughlin, who went 3-for-5 in an 18-9 win at Housatonic Regional-Falls Village on Wednesday, has nine doubles and eight triples.

The only losses have been to two tough non-league opponents: reigning Class S champion St. Paul-Bristol (12-7) and Sheehan-Wallingford, the 2015 Class M champion (4-3).

"We're confident we can play with any team we meet," Darcy said.

Two Rivers At DD Park

Two Rivers-Hartford plays the final home game in its brief history at Dunkin' Donuts Park Tuesday.

Two Rivers will close after this school year. Students will attend CREC's Academy of Science and Innovation in New Britain in the next school year.

"We've had a varsity team for three years," Two Rivers coach Ryan Anderson said. "Our team has taken its lumps, but the program has grown."

This season Two Rivers (7-8) has qualified for its first state tournament in Class S.

"We emphasize family, that we're all in this together," Anderson said. "Our players encourage each other and how can we get better."

Two Rivers plays HMTCA-Hartford at Dunkin' Donuts Park Tuesday and ends its regular season against Aerospace at Martin Park-East Hartford Wednesday.

"It'll be special at Dunkin' Donuts, especially for our four seniors, who've given so much to the program: Rodriguez, Zak Roger, Andrew Helminand Nazario," Anderson said. "We'll be in a new place next season. We're looking forward to Tuesday. To be in that beautiful ballpark is special. The spirit, togetherness and willingness to try and, if knocked down, get up and try again, are some of things I'll always remember about this team, the first to play in the states."

Ellington Lone Unbeaten

Of the 178 teams in the state, only one remains undefeated, Ellington.

The Knights, No. 5 in The Courant state ratings, went to 17-0 with a 6-2 win over Granby Thursday. Nick Abbruzzese had three hits and two RBI, and Joshua Sumislaski earned the victory.

Holy Cross-Waterbury's quest to be undefeated ended in its 19th game with an 8-5 loss to St. Paul on Tuesday.

Ellington faces some tests in its last three regular season games on the road: Haddam-Killingworth, No. 7 in The Courant area ratings, Sunday; Canton Monday and Tolland, No. 3 in The Courant state ratings, Tuesday.

East Catholic Pitching

East Catholic-Manchester has weathered injuries to its pitching staff to stand at 14-5.

Tyler Flanigan, Jeff Walsh and Connor Williams, who in the preseason were expected to be significant contributors, have combined to pitch only a few innings. Flanigan and Walsh have dealt with shoulder issues and Williams with a sprained ankle.

Coach Martin Fiori said Flanigan just got cleared and will probably pitch in relief.

Others have done well on the mound. Sophomore Anthony Mozzicato is 3-3 with a 1.96 ERA and one save. He struck out nine and allowed three hits in a 6-1 victory against Manchester in the annual Pink Out game Monday. Zach Simone is 4-1 with one save, Adam Harz 2-0 with one save and Mickey Howe 2-1 after beating RHAM 10-0 Thursday.

Jake Casey, who sat out the first 10 games after transferring from South Windsor, bolsters the staff, illustrated by his 2-1 win at Southington last Friday.

This victory came after East Catholic had lost 9-3 at South Kingstown, R.I., and 3-2 to Bristol Eastern. "It was a little wakeup call," Fiori said. "The Southington effort was big, a nice win."

The CIAC announces its tournament seeds and schedules next Friday. The LL, L, M and S title games are at Palmer Field in Middletown June 9-10.

Follow The Courant's coverage of the high school baseball season on Twitter @CTHSSports.

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Avon pitcher Connor Harris talks about his performance Sunday in a 6-1 victory over Waterford in the American Legion state tournament. Harris threw a one-hitter and had six strikeouts.

Avon pitcher Connor Harris talks about his performance Sunday in a 6-1 victory over Waterford in the American Legion state tournament. Harris threw a one-hitter and had six strikeouts.

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Avon pitcher Connor Harris talks about his performance Sunday in a 6-1 victory over Waterford in the American Legion state tournament. Harris threw a one-hitter and had six strikeouts.

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